Investigation of microgravity effect on solidification of medium-low-melting-point alloy by drop tube experiment

The solidification microstructure of Al-Ni, Al-Cu, Ag-Cu, Al-Pb and Cu-Co alloys quenched in silicone oil before and after free fall in evacuated 50 m drop tube were investigated contrastively. The effect of microgravity on the solidification process of medium-low-melting-point eutectic, monotectic and peritectic alloys were ana-lyzed and discussed. The results indicated that the effects of microgravity on the eutectic cell shape, the pattern in eutectic cell and the inter-eutectic spacing were different for different types of eutectic systems; the size distribution of Pb particles in Al-5wt% Pb monotectic alloy was significantly changed by microgravity; and the shape of retained primary α-Co phase in Cu-10wt%Co peritectic alloy was also changed by microgravity. These results are beneficial for people to further identify and analyze the solidification behavior of multiphase alloys under microgravity.